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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-18-2008 Minutes of the Economic Development Commission City of Mounds View Ramsey County, Minnesota Regular Meeting April 18, 2008 City of Mounds View, Council Chambers 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Gary Meehlhause called the meeting to order at 7:40 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Vice Chair Gary Meehlhause, Commissioners Dan Larson, Jackie Entsminger, Torri Johnson, Jennifer Wagner, Greg Belting (arrived at 7:44 a.m.) and Chair Jason Helgemoe (arrived at 7:53 a.m.) Members Absent: None Staff Present: Economic Development Specialist Heidi Steinmetz 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion/Second: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Larson seconded the approval of the April 18, 2008 EDC agenda. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes 0 Nays 4. APPROVAL OF EDC MINUTES: Motion/Second: Commissioner Larson moved and Commissioner Entsminger seconded the approval of the March 21, 2008 EDC minutes. Motion Carried: 5 Ayes 0 Nays 5. SPECIAL BUSINESS There was no special business. 6. EDC BUSINESS A. Review First Draft of Public Communications/Marketing Plan Ms. Steinmetz provided the overview that the EDC has been discussing general public communications/marketing issues since January 2008; however due to heavy agendas, EDC Minutes April 18,2008 Page 2 of 5 the EDC continues to discuss these issues. At the last meeting, EDC members in attendance agreed that there should be a "go to" City staff person coordinating all of the City's public communications/marketing activities, that the City newsletter should be redesigned (at least the cover)and that a cost efficient branding exercise should be completed for the City. Ms. Steinmetz referenced a document she developed that included draft public communications/marketing goals and target audiences. The document was meant to eventually guide the development of a potential Request For Proposals(RFP)document. A RFP would provide a professional public communications/marketing person with insight for what the City needs regarding branding services and eventually public communications/marketing services. Ms. Steinmetz asked the EDC for any changes to the draft public communications/marketing audiences and goals. She also asked for the EDC's input on a suggested implementation schedule. Commissioner Belting arrived at this time. Commissioner Johnson stated that she doesn't think the City is ready to send out an RFP unless the purpose would be for the consultant to begin with a branding exercise followed by determining a public communications/marketing strategy. She added that the City should establish a timeline but take the time to "do it right" because there is no need to rush through the process. Commissioner Wagner asked if the City has ever considered hiring a graduate student to do this type of work. Ms. Steinmetz said she didn't believe so. Commissioner Wagner agreed with Commission Johnson that it's too soon to decide upon a new logo prior to completing a branding exercise. Both agreed that the City needs to decide"who are we" in order to build its brand. Ms. Steinmetz added that input was received at the Redevelopment Roundtable discussion held at the April 7`"Council/EDC Work Session that the City should focus on a marketing plan in order to be prepared for when the market picks up. Commissioner Johnson said that it would be interesting to find out how much it would cost to complete a branding exercise. Motion/Second: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Entsminger seconded a recommendation that the EDA consider generating an RFP to initiate a branding exercise and a public communications/marketing plan for the City. Chair Helgemoe arrived at this time. Commissioner Belting mentioned that Risdall Advertising located in New Brighton may be willing to estimate the cost of a branding exercise without submitting a full-blown proposal. Commissioner Johnson stated that "other cities" should be added as another target audience in the draft goals and target audiences document. EDC Minutes April 18,2008 Page 3 of 5 Without further discussion, the Motion carried: 7 Ayes 0 Nays B. Continue Discussion Regarding 2008 Targeted Business List Ms. Steinmetz reminded the EDC that this item originated from a Comprehensive Plan Task Force meeting because the City's Comprehensive Plan contains verbiage about business recruitment. The EDC discussed policy questions regarding business recruitment such as"Is the goal to increase tax base or to provide jobs or both?" and "Is the goal to provide goods/services that are not currently available in Mounds View?" Commissioner Wagner mentioned that the second question will become more important as gas prices continue to rise. Commissioner Johnson said that this policy discussion relates to the EDC's prior discussion regarding branding and who the City wants to be. Commissioner Meehlhause added that since the City is now in the redevelopment mode, it may drive the types of businesses the City is able to recruit. Commissioner Belting agreed and added that redevelopment is complex due to financing and other dynamics. Commissioner Johnson said that the key discussion point is regarding jobs. She gave the example that grocery stores or restaurants will not generate many high-wage jobs. The EDC then reviewed a targeted business list that staff developed based on staff's memory, resident input and appointed/elected official input. The consensus of the EDC was for staff to categorize the list (to be less specific) for the EDC to review at the next meeting. C. Continue Discussion Regarding Housing Replacement Program Ms. Steinmetz reminded the EDC that the City's Housing Replacement Program provides demolition assistance paid for through Tax Increment Financing. The program offers a 10-year forgivable/deferred loan, which is administered through the Housing Resource Center. The program is the only housing related program that the City itself offers to Mounds View residents; however residents can access other Housing Resource Center programs, such as low-interest loans to conduct home improvement projects. She summarized last month's EDC discussion regarding the housing market, foreclosures and how important it is to maintain property values. Ms. Steinmetz asked the EDC if the City should expand its housing services or continue to refer people to the Housing Resource Center. Chair Helgemoe asked if the City is charged a fee for the Housing Resource Center's administrative services. Ms. Steinmetz said she'll check on that for the next meeting. Commissioner Johnson mentioned that since there are income limits to utilize home improvement programs, perhaps the programs are a self-fulfilling prophecy. EDC Minutes April 18,2008 Page 4 of 5 Commissioner Entsminger stated that she doesn't think the City should get involved with providing additional home improvement loans for a variety of reasons such as "What if the homeowner goes into default?" because the City would be taking a risk, etc. The consensus of the Commission was for staff to discuss this issue with housing organizations that offer these programs in order to make sure the City is reaching the population that may be underserved by typical housing programs. Ms. Steinmetz mentioned that the City's Housing/Code Enforcement Inspector is also a good resource for those who need housing advice. 7. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Entsminger reminded the group that the City's Town Hall Meeting is tomorrow (April 19th) from 9am to noon. She encouraged residents to attend. Chair Helgemoe stated that the Chamber has a new president, Tim Roche. He also highlighted the next big Chamber fundraising activity,which is the golf tournament to be held on Tuesday, June 3rd. He encouraged people to either golf or to donate. Commissioner Meehlhause mentioned that he was honored in Deluxe Corporation's annual report as participating in key initiatives for the company. Mounds View was mentioned in the report since Commissioner Meehlhause lives in the community. 8. REPORTS OF STAFF A. April 7th Redevelopment Roundtable Recap Ms. Steinmetz briefly recapped the Redevelopment Roundtable since four EDC members attended the Roundtable. The EDC also received a copy of the Roundtable meeting notes prior to this meeting. B. Totino's Italian Kitchen Grand Opening Ceremony Ms. Steinmetz reminded the EDC that the Totino's ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, May 91h at 10:00am. C. Other Ms. Steinmetz mentioned that Mounds View's third largest company, Liberty Enterprises, is now part of Harland Clarke. Chair Helgemoe asked for an update on Arden Hills's TCAAP project for the next meeting. Ms. Steinmetz remembered that Chair Helgemoe asked a question at the last meeting regarding what percentage of Mounds View homes are in foreclosure. Ms. Steinmetz said that there are approximately 5,000 households in Mounds View and 50 of them are either vacant or foreclosed. Commissioner Entsminger asked staff to send the EDC the foreclosure list. Ms. Steinmetz added that Housing Inspector Jeremiah Anderson would also be happy to provide information to the EDC on specific properties. The EDC asked EDC Minutes April 18,2008 Page 5 of 5 if staff is currently forming relationships with neighbors located near vacant or foreclosed properties. Ms. Steinmetz said she would check on that for the next meeting. Commissioner Larson asked if Totino's could conduct a survey to see where their patrons are coming from so that the City could promote itself to those areas. Ms. Steinmetz said that she could ask the owners if they are willing to do so. 9. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Commission, Chair Helgemoe adjourned the meeting 9:01 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Heidi Steinmetz Economic Development Specialist